The west's awake at national brass band finals

Castlebar Concert Band among winners on memorable day for the province

The west was certainly awake at the national brass and concert band championship finals at the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone yesterday.

Three bands from Connaught - Castlebar Concert Band, St. Patrick's Brass Band, Galway, and Ballinasloe Town Band - won their respective sections at the prestigious event on a memorable and historic day for the province.

Castlebar Concert Band, under the musical direction of Debbie Clarke, was presented with the prized Larry Daly Cup after being chosen as 'the most promising band' in the country.

The band, a central pillar of Music West, was also named 'best brass band' and winners of their category.

Adding to the success, the band was feted for 'best slow piece' (Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, arranged by Michael Browne), and 'best own choice' (The Marches of John Williams by John Williams, arranged by Johnny Vinson).

The band's opening piece by Bluebell March by V. Stanton.

In respect of the band's performance of Hallelujah, the adjudicators stated: "The melodic trends were positively characterised with well-judged relative balance within the texture."

On the performance of The Marches of John Williams, the adjudicators said: "The jaunty rhythms were increasingly well played as the band got fully into its stride with longer, crisp articulation."

In respect of the playing of Bluebell March, the judges outlined: 'A firm underlying pulse was maintained throughout with a good grasp of the style evidenced. . .with committed playing."

A thrilled Debbie Clarke expressed her delight at the result.

"The members invested a great deal of time and effort in our programme and it's wonderful for everybody involved to win such recognition on a national stage.

"We have certainly learned a great deal from the experience and will draw from it in a very position fashion going forward," she said.

St. Patrick's Brass Band, Galway, led by Michael Doocey, and Ballinasloe Town Band, under the direction of Keith Kelly, also emerged on top in their categories following brilliant performances.